Kirill Poluektovich Naryshkin

What people wore

Footwear by social class

Ordinary peasant women wore bast shoes made from tree bark or vine twigs, whereas wealthier women wore boots or shoes made from leather, velvet, or brocade with high heels.

Daily life

Living in a Serf Izba

Serf dwellings were one-room log cabins (izbas) with tiny windows, often covered with stretched animal bladder or mica rather than glass to conserve heat. These homes were typically heated by a large clay-based oven that took up a quarter of the floor area and doubled as a sleeping platform.

Work

Early Labor and Household Craft Tasks

Child labor started very early; girls were taught to spin at age 6, mastered the sickle by age 10, and were working in fields alongside adults by age 15. Women managed essential household tasks like flax production, which involved a multi-stage process of soaking, crushing, and combing fiber before weaving in the winter.

Music

Women's street swing entertainment

Women enjoyed swinging on ropes or boards, where men would push them to great heights for a small payment.

At the table

Oat flour tolokno was a daily staple

Ordinary people frequently ate tolokno, a simple dish made by mixing oat flour with water, salt, and sometimes berries or honey. It was a staple, especially on fasting days.

Getting around

Carrying Supplies for Long Journeys

Because inns were rare, travelers were advised to carry essential supplies including an axe, fire-starting equipment, a cooking pot, and food for the entire duration of the journey. In the 16th and 17th centuries, many travelers were forced to camp under the open sky along riverbanks.

What it cost

Cost of footwear

In the late 17th century, a pair of fine morocco leather boots cost 1 ruble, while simpler leather shoes were significantly cheaper.